Strengths: I always race with a slime lite in my rear tire. It has saved me so many times in races. I had one race where I finished the race with no flats, and found 3 thorns in the tire each about an inch long racing in Lajitas. Not one leak. So I have to give these a thumbs up.

Weaknesses: I have come across a bad tube or 2 but just return it. You usually know about when you first air it up.

These don't work. I bought 2 tubes and they both failed within a week (3 rides). I think you would be better with standard weight tubes, they both leak if you get thorn punctures. Very disappointed!

Back in the day we made our own puncture resistant tubes by cutting a small (1/4") slice in a light tube and inserting a small amount of slime and then patching it. They worked better and cost less. Try it.

I wasn't going to write this review until I actually had to use the sealant features of this tube. Well, guess what happened this morning on my commute to work...

As my bike was sitting in my office, all of a sudden I heard this loud hissing and notice my tire was flat as a pancake. I inspect the tire only to find a goathead thorn partially lodged into the tire (I guess the air frantically rushed out as the thorn went from fully lodge to partially lodged). So I fill the tire up with air and noticed that the tube would not seal and the air came out again. I then unbeaded the tire (just one side) to see if there was more debris (there wasn't). I then rebeaded the tire and filled it up with air again. This time it held up. I made it home without any issues and the tire continues to hold air.

I was expecting that the tire would've sealed upon initial removal of the goathead thorn (if it did, I would've given this a 5 rating instead). I didn't think it would've taken two air fillings for the tube to seal. But in the end, it did work and do its job.

So if you decide to get this product, my advice to you is to make sure you bring plenty of CO2 cartridges (or lots of elbow grease for your hand pump) when getting the tube to seal.

Strengths: Can seal small hole (as long as you find the thorn and pull it out)

Weaknesses: Can't seal large holes, can't seal pinch flats -- and worst of all doesn't work well with path kits. Last flat I had multiple misfires trying to get a path to hold -- the slime from inside the tube would push out through the glue in the patch. I finally got a patch to hold only to go flat a few miles later.

Bottom Line:

False sense of security -- don't fall for the gimmick.Contrary to an earlier review it _will_ leave you shivering in the cold. If the slime can't fix a hole, then you're hosed.

Also it could just be bad luck, but I've gotten more flats in the last year than in the last 5 years combined. 3 flats the slime was able to seal, but the other three I had to try to patch.

It seemed like a good idea a first, but after being stranded twice (patches couldn't fix) by the tube I'm at a loss as to why I fell for the pitch in the first place. Patch kits and stick on patches work fine and prior to slime I've never met hole I couldn't patch together.

I use these on my commuter bike to ride the roads in rural japan that seem to be made of gravel, broken glass and potholes. I got my first flat in six months. I had a flat every morning for three days. I fixed it by adding air and going for a 20k ride. On the fourth day I took the time to check the tube. It had a 1/4 inch gash. I do not know how well other similar tubes work but any tube that lets me ride 20k with a large hole is worth having on my bike.

On my first ride out (<1 hour after installation on my bike and my wife's bike): my rear tire got a goat head thorn, tire went low, pulled thorn, spun the tire, pumped it up, rode 4 miles home, was very happy, tire was flat next day, then not happy. The hole was tiny. I didn't expect miracles, but it should have sealed this. Put another slime lite tube in (bought several) and will see how try number two works. I will try regular slime tube if this doesn't work.

I moved down to socal from nocal, and man the goats heads thorns are a pain down here. Went through two of my lousy specialized lite tubes and then installed these, since then, no problems riding over the exact same goats-head covered trails that flatted me before. I like 'em and they're light!

Just installed a Slime Lite tube for the first time and inflated it to 30 PSI. As I was eating my pre-ride lunch, I heard a strange sizzling sound. I turned off the TV, discovered it was the tire, and a few seconds later, BOOM. I've got two more in reserve. We'll see how those go.

Both tubes went on at same time. Next morning, front was flat. Tube had 1 inch tear around valve stem. Next ride, fine. Next morning, rear tube had same tear around valve stem. Tires were at 50 PSI riding gravel roads.

Bike Setup: Dawes 'Edge 1' (British single speed from a company that started making traditional touring bikes) with schwable little albert 2.1 tyres

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ USA

Date Reviewed: January 8, 2003

Strengths: Well, it is very light, but....

Weaknesses: ...It does not seal punctures like the regular slime tubes do.

Bottom Line:

As the reviewer below states, a smaller amount of slime is used in these "Lite" tubes, and it is not enough. In addition, it is a different formulation without the fibers. Yes, they are light, but they do no seal. I have been using Wrencforce self healing tubes (standard weight) and have quit worrying about flats.

Although I'm still using these tube they do not do what they are supposed to do, which is seal small punctures. They are light though. Therein lies the problem, to achieve the light weight they start with a thin tube and then they put in a limited amount of Slime. I don't think there is enough Slime to adequately coat the entire inside of the tube. Hence I'm not too sure I've ever had one seal a puncture like it is supposed to do. I have had a lot of flats with these tubes and have had to patch or replace them. I ride in the high desert in the Texas Panhandle, Palo Duro Canyoh St Park and you HAVE to have some kind of thorn protection here. I have had better luck with Specialized Air Lock tubes although their sealant has a tendency to dry out over time and they are heavier. The bottom line on Slime Lite tubes is that they ARE light but in the end the puncture protection is more of a "placebo effect' than actual. At between $8 and $9 ea. these tubes are expensive.

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